The Soft Touch Holly shrub is a great all-around shrub for your landscape design. These hollies are a no-maintenance shrub with nice soft foliage, unlike other hollies.

Soft Touch Hollies give off a nice dark green color with light green new growth. Its leaves are very small and slow-growing with a soft texture. This holly is very compact and stays compact. You will not have to worry about any shoots popping up and much if any trimming or pruning. Enjoy its dark green color year-round from season to season.

We carry male and female hollies at our nursery, and you will need both to produce berries on the female plant. However, hollies are hard to tell apart when they are not fruiting, and we can’t guarantee whether you will receive a male or female. For best results, we suggest planting in groups to enjoy berries on the female plants and lush greenery on both year-round.

Why Is My Soft Touch Holly Turning Brown?

Make sure your holly is getting enough water and the ph in the soil isnt too high. Consider getting your soil tested to check for iron deficiency. Lack of iron will create low levels of chlorophyll and in turn produce the yellowing on the leaves.

What Are Good Companion Plants For This Shrub?

Plant this holly with coral bells, rose of sharon, or creeping phlox in a mixed bed or as border plants.

Where Should I Plant This Holly Shrub?

Plant this adaptable shrub in a spot that gets full sun to part shade in grow zones 5-9.

Be sure to choose the appropriate location for your Soft Touch Holly. As long as you avoid extreme temperatures you can plant your Holly almost any time of the year.

Hollies tolerate full sun to part sun. They prefer a slightly acidic soil, but tend to adapt just about any well draining soil. After planting, adding a layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch will help keep the soil moist. Mulching is highly recommended in cooler zones to protect the plant's roots in winter as well. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk as this increases the chances of pests and disease. Water your Holly deeply a couple times a week for the first few months. After your Hollies are established, they only need watered during hot, dry spells. Fertilize in spring with a slow release fertilizer for broad leaf evergreen shrubs. Soft Touch Hollies tolerate pruning well if you want to keep them a certain size or shape. Heavy pruning is best reserved for late winter or early spring. You can certainly let your Soft Touch Holly grow naturally with no pruning as well.

The best way to prevent disease and pests is by providing the appropriate care for your plants. Proper location choice, watering, and fertilization are the keys to your success. Mites and scale are insects that can occasionally affect Hollies. These can be treated with horticultural oil. For severe infections the pesticide Bonide is recommended. Avoid saturated soils to prevent fungal issues in Hollies.

The versatile Soft Touch Holly is a great evergreen shrub for the landscape.  This holly looks attractive in any type of garden or mixed bed. Its naturally rounded shape looks stunning contrasting something like a sky pencil holly.  This is a great shrub for building a low easy to maintain hedge or border. In your landscape, Soft Touch Hollies are great for accenting around a Crape Myrtle or specimen tree. Plant 1.5 feet apart for a tight hedge. Shape this shrub to get the exact look you want, whether you prefer a rounded or more angular look. You will like the texture and year-round color or this holly in group plantings. This holly is an alternative to the boring and temperamental boxwood, and is faster growing.

The Soft Touch Holly fits in a formal or a casual landscape.  Keep this shrub manicured for a high-end look.  Let it grow and be itself for a natural, woodsy look.